Coast Guard assists vessel stuck in the ice

DULUTH, Minn – Gale force winds coupled with heavy snowfall led to a collection of ice outside of the Duluth-Superior Harbor Entrances overnight. The Coast Guard Cutter Alder, already on scene, will be joined by the Coast Guard Cutter Biscayne Bay and Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw to clear the ice and establish tracks so shipping can resume.

Overnight, strong winds drove free floating lake ice into the entrances of Duluth-Superior Harbors. Heavy snows blanketed this ice to form a solid mass approximately two to three foot thick extending from the shores of Minnesota to Wisconsin, six miles north into Lake Superior. Sailing from Duluth Harbor en route Two Harbors, Minn., the Motor Vessel Lee A. Tregurtha became beset in ice at approximately 10:40 a.m.

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Alder broke the ice around the vessel, at approximately 5:30 p.m.

The Tregurtha is able to traverse its intended track along the shipping channel.